Grinding and polishing machine



July '4, 1939. R. w. FULLER GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31,*-1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4, 1939.

R. W. FULLER GRNDING AND POLISHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .vill/M llInJlI/ l Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GRINDING AND POLISHING MACHINE Rufus W. Fuller, Deereld, Mass., assigner to Production Machine Company,

Greenfield,

15 Claims.

The present invention relates to grindingand polishing machines and more particularly to supplementary work supporting and feeding mechanism for the same.

The preferred embodiment of the invention represents an improvement on the work supporting mechanism disclosed in the patent to R. W. Fuller, No. 1,900,984, dated March 14, 1933, and is particularly, though by no means exclusively, adapted for use in conjunction with grinding and polishing machines of the centerless type, of which the machine illustrated in the patent to R. W. Fuller, No. 1,421,205, dated June 22, 1922, is an example. Such machines are commonly used for grinding and polishing cylindrical work, which is fed through the machine and past the abrasive member with a combined rotational and axial movement, this movement being imparted to the Work by a feed roll or endless belt which also holds the work against the abrasive belt or wheel. The rate of feed of the work is dependent upon the inclination of the work feeding roll or belt with respect to the axis of the work.

In order to grind or polish long lengths of rod or tubing, it is necessary that the material be supported at each side of the machine. The supporting mechanism described in Patent No. 1,900,984, While satisfactory for handling small rods and tubing, has not proved adequate where long lengths of comparatively `heavy cylindrical work must be ground or polished. Since the only mechanism there provided for rotating and feeding the work is the feed belt of the machine, it is evident that the work is in non-rotating condition when it first comes into contact with the feed belt and grinding wheel or abrasive belt. Due to the inertia of the work, appreciable time is required before the work revolves with the same surface speedr as that of the feed belt, with the result that a flat place is frequently ground in the Work. In some cases the work may fail to revolve at all, due to friction between the work and the guide rolls, which do not revolve with rotational movement of the work, but only when the Work moves in an axial direction.

With a View to improving the side work support of Patent No. 1,900,984 above referred to, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a side work support for grinding machines and the like having means for imparting directly to the work both rotational and axial movements to supplement the feeding mechanism of the machine, whereby cylindrical Work of substantial weight and length may be satisfactorily ground or polished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a i side work support for grinding machines and the like having a plurality of work engaging and work guiding rolls, all of which may be similarly inclined axially with respect to the axis of the work to any desired extent within the range provided, whereby combined rotational and axial movements may be imparted to the work with a minimum of rubbing friction between work and rolls.

Another object of the invention is to provide a side work support for grinding machines and the like having power-driven Work supporting and work guiding means capable of adjustment to permit the support to accommodate various sizes of work while maintaining at all times one side of the` work in the same vertical plane and the axis of the work in the same horizontal plane.

With these objects in view, the present inven- .tion comprises a side work support for supporting and guiding long cylindrical work While imparting both rotational and axial movements thereto by means of sets of work guiding and power-driven work supporting rolls having provision for axial inclination with respect to the axis of the work. The work supporting rolls are also arranged for combined vertical and horizontal adjustment, and

one set of guidey rolls for horizontal adjustment, so that work of various diameters may be accommodated while maintaining the axis of the work in the same horizontal plane. Means are also provided for simultaneously adjusting the angle of inclination of both work supporting and guiding rolls to secure any desired rate of feed.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a top plan View of the side work support; Fig, 2 is a view in front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, on an enlarged scale, looking from the right in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, on a still larger scale, of the work contacting roll and mounting therefor; and Fig. 5 is an end view of the same.

The centerless grinding and polishing machine of the type illustrated in Patent No. 1,421,205 above referred to comprises briefly an abrasivecoated endless belt traveling at high speed in a Vertical plane, with a feed roll or belt, which engages the work on the opposite side of the abrasive belt, traveling at relative low speed. The feed roll or belt has provision not only for bodily movement toward and away from the abrasive belt to accommodate work of different diameters, but also for various inclinations with respect to the axis of the work for feeding the work axially at different speeds as the latter isy rotated by the frame. A

, rolls.

fixed work support between the abrasive and feed rolls supports the rotating work in proper position.

While only a single work support is illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the machine of the type above described would ordinarily be provided with two side work supports, one at each side of the grinding or polishing machine proper, in order that the work might be adequately supported while the grinding or polishing operation is being performed, and also to assist in feeding the work up to and away from the machine before and after such operation takes place.

While the work support of the drawings is designed for use in connection with a centerless grinding or polishing machine such as shown in Fumer Patent, No, 1,900,984, above referred to, it is preferably constructed as a separate unit detached from the machine proper but positioned adjacent thereto. The framework of the side work support upon .which the various work lguiding and supporting instrumentalities and their associated parts are mounted, comprises end stands or frames I6 to which are secured the longitudinal angular members I8, 20, 22, each constituting a bed for a set of work contacting The rear member I8 is rigidly secured to the end frames I6, being bolted to spacer blocks 24.

'I'he front bed member 20 is arranged for transverse movement toward and away from the work, being mounted on carriages 26 which slidingly engage guideways 28 on the end frames I6. The bed is adjusted on said guideways by means of racks and pinions, the racks 30 being secured to the carriages 26, while the pinions 32 are arranged on a single shaft 34 journalled in bearings 38 in the end frames I6. The shaft 34 is rotated by means of a suitable tool which is inserted in holes 40 spaced about the periphery of an adjusting disk 42 secured to the shaft.

y tached to each of the end frames I6.

.The bed 22, upon which the work supporting rolls are mounted, is arranged for simultaneous vertical and horizontal adjustment, so that the center lines of work of various diameters may all lie in the same horizontal plane, while maintaining the side of the work which is engaged by the abrasive means always in the same vertical plane, thereby eliminating the need for adjusting the position of the abrasive belt or wheel for each size of work. The bed 22 is secured to brackets 43 formed on sleeves 44 which are arranged to slide on cylindrical guideways 46 at- A shaft 48 journalled in bearings in the sleeves 44 has pinions thereon which mesh with rack teeth on the guideways 46. The shaft is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to raise the brackets and bed by means of a handle 50 which is loosely mounted in the shaft and adapted to be connected thereto by suitable ratchet mechanism indicated generally at 52, a pawl 54 which engages a ratchet wheel 56 fixed on the shaft preventing rotation in reverse direction except when the pawl is lifted.

The work supporting rolls 58 which are mounted on the bed 22 are pivotally mounted as illustrated in Fig. 4 to permit their axis to be inclined with respect to the axis of the work for feeding the work in an axial direction as the work rotates. The rolls are provided with a. covering ,of rubber, leather, felt, or the like, dependingV on thenature of the work to be handled, and one side of the roll surface is bevelled as at 6I to provide smooth engagement with the work as it moves axially into contact with the rolls. The rolls 58 are keyed to short shafts 62 journalled in bearings 64 in the arms of the roll frames 66, which are pivotally mounted on subbases 68. The sub-bases are attached to the bed 22 by means of studs 10, the set screws II affording adjustment to insure steadiness in case the surface of the bed is irregular.

The roll frames 66 are rotatably held in position on the annular faces or flanges 12 of the sub-bases 68 lby means of a hold-down member 'I3 having a cylindrical and a shoulder portion 'I4 and 'I5 respectively for engaging the roll frame, and a threaded portion 'I6 which screws into a tapped hole in the sub-base. The members 'I3 are provided with a recess 'I7 shaped to -receive a tool 4bywhich they may be rotated to adjust the pivotal clearance or tightness of the bearing of the frames between the hold-down members and the sub-bases. After the desired adjustment has been secured the parts may be locked in position by tightening the stud 18 which passes through the bed 22 into the tapped hole on the hold-down member 13.

The work supporting rolls are simultaneously adjusted for uniform inclination with respect to the axis of the work by means of a longitudinally extending strip or bar 'I9 pivotally connected to arms 80 projecting from each of the roll frames 66. A pointer 8I on the bed or support 22 and a scale 82 on the bar facilitates accurate adjustment of the rolls to the desired angle of inclination.

The rolls are locked in the desired angular position by means of a set screw 83 in one of the roll frames 66, the end of the screw engaging the cylindrical portion 'I4 of the hold-down member 13.

'I'he work supporting rolls are rotated from a gear box 84 mounted on the support 22, universal joint 85 and splined telescoping joints 86 in the connecting shafts 88 permitting the transmission of power irrespective of the axial inclin sitions of the bed. The countershaft is driven v from a suitable source of power, not illustrated.

The work guiding rolls IDII are mounted on the angular bed members, I8 and 2li in roll frames |02 substantially similar to the work supporting roll frames 66, with the added feature of integral webs I04 which aid in guiding the work into proper position as it is lowered into the support. The rolls are somewhat smaller in diameter than the work supporting rolls 58, since they are merely idler rolls, for guiding the work; The guide rolls of each set are angularly adjusted to secure the desired feed by connecting strips or bars |06, scales A|08 on the strips cooperating with fixed pointers IIU in the support to aid in setting the idler rolls to the same axial inclination as the work supporting rolls, and a set screw locking the roll frames in the desired angular adjustment in the same manner as with thevfeed rolls.

In the use of the improved side work support, this will be positioned on the work supply side of the grinding or polishing machine (preferably with a second similar support on the Work discharge side) in proper axial alignment therewith.

Ihe diameter of the work being determined, the preliminary adjustment of the work supporting rolls 58 and the movable work guiding rolls |00 will be made. For the Work supporting rolls this is accomplished by means of the handle 50 and shaft 48 through the pinions and racks, causing the mountings for the rolls to slide up or down on the inclined guideways 46 according to whether smaller or larger sizes of work are to be fed. The parts are held in the desired position against their own Weight by the locking pawl 5d. 'Ihe movable work guiding rolls are then adjusted toward and from the xed rolls by the rack and gear connection from the rotating shaft 34, by means of the wrench or tool tted on the disk 42.

The sets of rolls now being properly spaced relatively to one another, the rolls are angularly adjusted for the desired rate of feed. If the grinding machine proper has a feed, the rate of feed of the side support will be adjusted to coincide therewith. The work feeding rolls are adjusted simultaneously by moving the bar or rod i9 manually the proper amount, the set screw 83 being irst loosened to permit such movement and then being tightened to hold the parts securely in the desired angular position. The work lguiding rolls are similarly adjusted, the several scales and pointers enabling the operator to secure uniform angularity with a minimum of eiort.

The feed rolls are next set in operation from the source of power at the proper rotational speed as determined by the gear box in accordance with the requirements of the work.

Work is now supplied to the support, conveniently by laying it on the work supporting and feed rolls and between the guide rolls, the inclined webs H34 above the latter rolls guiding the work as it is lowered into position. As soon as the work contacts the positively driven feed rolls, it is set in rotation and at the same time is advanced to the grinding and polishing machine proper. Thus it comes rotating to the grinding and polishing instrumentalities and the formation of ats or other imperfections is prevented.

1f desired, work may be fed continuously through the machine with a minimum of effort and skill on the part of the operator, it being necessary only'to keep the Work support ysupplied with lengths of work which c-ontact with at least two of the feed rolls. The feeding of the work to, past, and from the working instrumentalities is wholly automatic.

Due to the use of positively driven feed rolls, long and heavy Work will be given a more uniform and steady rotation at the desired speed than can be secured by the use of a single feed roll or belt. 'Ihe work resting on the driven feed rolls by its own weight automatically secures the proper contact for rotation, yet without excessive pressure between the parts. By providing for adjustment of the angularity of the rolls, varying rates of feed can be obtained as required by the various characters of the work.

While the side support constituting the invention has been described in conjunction with a centerless grinding and polishing machine, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to use with such machines, but is intended and adapted for use with any machine which operates on long cylindrical Work which is subjected to simultaneous rotational and axial movements in the course of the working operation.

Nor is the present invention limited to the particlular forms and arrangements of parts herein shown and described, for these may be varied and modified'and other forms and arrangements employed within the scope o the appended claims.

The nature and scope of the invention having thus been described, what is claimed is:

1. A side work support for grinding machines and the like having a frame provided with inclined ways, guides movable on the ways, a work supporting and feeding roll carried by the guides, a driven pulley supported on the guides, a driving pulley mounted in xed position on the frame, the movement of the driven pulley and supporting guides on the ways being approximately normal to the plane of the axes of the pulleys.

2. A side work support for grinding machines and the like having a frame provided with inclined ways, guides movable on the ways, a supporting and feeding roll carried by the guides, a driven pulley supported on the guides, a driving pulley mounted in xed position on the frame, the movement of the driven pulley and supporting guides on the ways being approximately normal to the plane of the axes of the pulleys, a belt connection between the driving and vdriven pulleys, and a pivoted weighted belt tightener to maintain substantial uniform belt tension for varying positions of the ldriven pulley.

3. A side work support -for grinding machines and the like having a frame provided with inclined ways, guides movable on the ways, a supporting bed carried by the guides, a set of work supporting and feeding rolls carried by the bed, and means comprising cooperatingrack and pinion for adjusting the guides on the ways.

4. A side work support for grinding machines and the like having a frame provided with in clined ways, guides movable on the ways, a supporting bed carried by the guides, a set of work supporting and feeding rolls carried by the bed, means comprising cooperating rack and pinion for adjusting the guide on the ways, a handle for actuating the pinion, and a ratchet and pawl device for holding the bed in adjusted position.

5. A side work support for grinding machines and the like having a supporting bed, a plurality of spaced work engaging rolls, supports for said rolls pivotally mounted on the bed to provide for the angular axial adjustment of the rolls with respect to the axis of the work, and means including arms carried by the roll supports and connections between said arms for simultaneously adjusting the roll supports angularly.

6. A side work support for grinding machines and the like having a supporting bed for supporting a plurality of spaced work engaging rolls carried thereby, means for securing the rolls to the bed having provision for angular adjustment of the rolls with respect to the axis of the work, means for simultaneously adjusting said rolls angularly, and cooperating pointer and scale, one fixed and the other movable with the angular movement of the rolls to facilitate said angular adjustment.

7. A side Work support for grinding machines and the like comprising a frame having transverse ways therein, guides movable in the ways, a supporting bed iixed upon the frame, a second supporting bed mounted on the guides, sets of spaced work engaging rolls carried by said beds, and means for moving the guides and bed carried thereby toward and from the iixed bed.

8. A side work support for grinding machines and the like having a frame provided with incline'd ways, guides movable on the ways, a supporting bed carried by the guides, a set of Work supporting and feeding rolls carried by the bed, means comprising cooperating rack and pinion for adjusting the guides on the Ways, and means for actuating the supporting and feeding rolls independently of the work.

9. A side Work support for grinding machines and the like having a bed, a plurality of spaced Work engaging rolls, roll supports each having a bore, a base for each roll support provided with a threaded opening and secured to the bed, a member extending through the bore for pivotally securing the roll support to the base, said member having a threaded portion adapted to engage the threaded opening in the base whereby said member may be rotated to adjust the pivotal clearance between roll support and base, and threaded means forsecuring the member against rotation relative to the base.

10. A side Work support for grinding machines and the like having a bed, a plurality of spaced work engaging rolls, roll supports each having a bore, a base for each support provided with a thread-ed opening and secured to the bed, a member extending through the bore for pivotally se-v curing the roll support to the base, said member having a threaded portion adapted to engage the threaded opening inthe base to afford adjustment of pivotal clearance between roll support and base by rotation of said member, means for securing the member against rotation in the base, and threaded means in the roll support adapted yto engage the member for securing the roll support against rotation relative to the base.

V1l. A side Work support for grinding machines and the like having a plurality of spaced rolls bodily adjustable to accommodate 'work of various diameters and angularly adjustable with revto spect to the axis of the Work independently of their bodily adjustment to vary the rate of feed imparted to the Work, and means for rotating the rolls from Ya source of power under their varying bodily and angular adjustments, said meansrolls fixed in position tangent to said plane and l on the opposite side thereof from the work, a second set of spaced Work engaging idler rolls bodily movable toward and away from the fixed set of rolls, and a third set of work engaging rolls bodily movable toward and away from the fixed rolls, the rolls of the third set being driven from a sourcerof power to rotate the Work and angularly adjustable with respect to the axis of the Work independently of their bodily adjustment to vary the rate of feed imparted to the work.

` i3. A side work support for grinding machines and the like adapted to support rotating work with the periphery thereof tangent to a fixed plane which includes the point of operation of the machine on the Work, said support comprising a set of Work engaging idler guiding rolls xed in position at one side of Vthe work, a second set of Work. engaging idler guiding rolls movable toward andaway from the first set of rolls in a plane substantially normal to the first plane, and a third set of Work engaging rolls adjustably positioned beneath the Workto support the same irrespective of its diameter with its axis in the sameA plane normal to the first plane, the rolls of the three sets being angularly adjustable with respect to the axis of the Workto vary the rate of feed, and the rolls of the thirdset being driven from a source of power to rotate the work.

14. A side Work support for grinding machines and the like for supporting rotating work independently of its diameter with its V periphery tanger. to a fixed plane, said support comprising a set of spaced work-engaging rolls positioned tangent to said fixed plane on the opposite side thereof from the work, a second set of spaced Work-engaging rolls bodily movable toward and 1 from the first set, and a third set of Workengaging rolls bodily adjustable'withrespect to the iirst setof rollspvthe rolls ofthe three sets being rotatable in planes tranverse to the axis of the work, and the rolls of one of the sets being angularly adjustable with respect to the axis of the work to vary the rate of feed thereof.

l5. A side Work support for grinding machines and the like for supporting rotating work independently of its diameter with its periphery tangent to a fixed plane, said support comprising a set of spaced Work-engaging rolls positioned tangent to said fixed planeon the opposite side thereofY from the Work, a second set of spaced Work-engaging rolls bodily movabletoward and from the rst set, and a third set of workengaging` rolls bodily adjustable with respect toA the rst set of rolls, the rolls of the three sets being angularly adjustable with respect to the axis of the work to vary the'rate of feed imparted v thereto. Y

RUFUS W. FULLER.- 

